Acne is one of the most common skin diseases in the entire world. It is caused by inflamed hair follicles and oil glands. It occurs mostly on your face, chest, and back. Although acne is not overly dangerous, it can permanently scar and disfigure your skin. We recommend early treatment of this skin disease in order to deal with it before excess scarred tissue is formed because of it. Acne sufferers will produce a substance known as keratin. Keratin stops the oils in your body from draining through your pores.

How does Acne Develop?

Acne is formed when hair, sebum, and skins cells clump together, blocking a skin pore. When these three components block the pore, bacteria within the plug cause it to swell up. After some time, the plug begins to break down, causing a pimple. Pimples come in a variety of forms including the following:

Whiteheads – Pimples which remain under the surface of your skin

Blackheads – Pimples that rise to the surface of your skin

Papules – Tender, pink bumps

Pustules – A red pimple that is filled with pus

Nodules – A large pimple that is deep and painful

Cysts – Deep, painful, pus-filled scars that tend to cause scarring

Regardless of which type of a pimple is formed, all can cause scarring, with cysts being the most common.

What Causes Acne?

Although doctors have not yet pinpointed the exact reasons for acne growth as of yet, we have determined the most common influencers. An increase in hormone levels during either the pubescent stage of teenagers or pregnancy. The increase in hormones during these times can cause your oil glands to clog more often. Another influence is taking birth control pills. Studies have shown that women have a higher chance of pimple growth both when they start and stop taking birth control pills. Acne can also be hereditary. If your parents had or have acne, there is a higher chance that you will have it too. Some types of medicine and makeup have also been known to cause acne.

Things that Can Make Acne Worse

If you already have acne, there are a few things that can irritate them and make things worse. The increased hormonal level that women experience a week or so before their menstruation period is one of the most common causes of acne irritation. Putting too much pressure on your head can also irritate your acne. An example of this is when you use a bike helmet. The helmet needs to be tightly fitted to your head in order to keep you safe. This pressure, unfortunately, tends to make your acne spread. Exposure to pollution or humid climates can irritate your acne as well. One of the worst irritations that make acne worse, however, is scratching or scrubbing your skin harshly. Whether you use your hands or a scrubber to clean yourself, if you scrub too harshly where your acne is present, it may cause it to grow and spread.